We’ve chattered about this 2-bedroom in the converted church at 1658 W. Superior in West Town several times.

See our October 2011 chatter here.

This unit was originally listed all the way back in June 2010.

It was recently reduced another $20,000 and has now been reduced $100,000 since 2010.

For most of you, this is your favorite Crib Chatter-featured church conversion.  

It kept many of the church’s original features, including the glorious stained glass windows, the bow trusses and the exposed brick.

This unit has a 30-foot cathedral ceiling in the living area and one of the large stained glass windows.

The unit also has exposed steel bow trusses and exposed brick walls.

The kitchen has granite counter tops, maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The master bedroom is lofted and on the second level.

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and not just 1 but 2 car parking which is included.

In the end, will this end up selling closer to the 2000 price?

Nicholas Colagiovanni at Baird & Warner still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #8: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1600 square feet, 2 car parking included

• Sold in May 2000 for $295,000
• Sold in June 2004 for $334,000
• Originally listed in June 2010 for $449,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in October 2011 for $369,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $349,000
• Assessments of $450 a month
• Taxes of $3131
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 19×16 (lofted second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×12 (main level)

This 2 bedroom loft at 2435 N. Sheffield in Lincoln Park has been on the market since June 2011.

For loft lovers, this is for you.

The loft, in a converted factory, has 15 foot timber ceilings and skylights.

It is four levels with exposed brick and bedrooms open to the rest of the space.

One bedroom is in the lower level, one on the second level and there is a spiral staircase that takes you up to the office on the third level.

The listing says the kitchen has white Poggenpohl cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The loft has the other features buyers look for, including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and indoor garage parking.

It has been reduced $49,000 to $350,000.

Is this loft priced to sell?

John Sutton at Conlon Real Estate has the listing. See more pictures here.

Or you can see it in person at the Open House on Sunday, February 26 from 11:30 to 1 PM.

Unit #6: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 1987 (public records don’t give an amount but Zillow says it sold for $240,000)
• Originally listed in June 2011 for $399,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $350,000
• Assessments of $236 a month
• Taxes of $4731
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Indoor parking included
• Bedroom #1: 16×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 17×8 (lower level)
• Office: 8×8 (third floor)

This bank owned 1-bedroom in Marina Towers at 300 N. State in River North has been on the market since January 13, 2012.

In that time, it has been reduced $18,100 to $168,900.

There are only a few pictures of the interior of the unit.

It appears to have carpeting.

The unit has northeast views.

The kitchen has white cabinets and a yellow stove and dishwasher.

Yes – yellow.

Could those be the original 1960 appliances?

The unit doesn’t have central air (only wall units), no in-unit washer/dryer and parking is valet in the building.

How low will this go?

[Also notice, the bank has owned this unit since December 2010.]

Elizabeth Lita at R.E.I.T. Homes has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2128: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 800 square feet

• Sold in July 1998 for $93,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in February 2009
• Bank owned in December 2010
• Originally listed  in January 2012 for $187,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $168,900
• Assessments of $362 a month (includes doorman and cable)
• Taxes of $2296
• No central air- only wall units
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Parking is valet
• Bedroom: 14×11

This 3-bedroom at 848 W. Ainslie in the Margate Park neighborhood of Uptown first came on the market in October 2007.

It was withdrawn in 2008 and then re-listed in May 2010.

In that time it has been reduced $110,000.

The unit is now listed $75,100 under the 2005 purchase price at $329,900.

It is a true 3-bedroom at 1800 square feet. It also has a sunroom.

The kitchen is separate from the living space and has cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

There is a master suite with a walk-in closet.

The second bedroom also has its own private bath.

The unit has the features that buyers are looking for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit, parking and a back deck.

Will this unit finally sell in 2012?

Christina Carmody at Chicago Real Estate Resources has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3E: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1800 square feet

• Sold in April 2003 for $364,000
• Sold in November 2005 for $405,000
• Originally listed in October 2007 for $439,900
• Reduced and withdrawn in 2008
• Re-listed in May 2010 for $399,900
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed at $329,900
• Assessments of $232 a month
• Taxes of $6059
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking included
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×11
• Bedroom #3: 15×9
• Sunroom: 11×8

This 3-bedroom brick single family home at 2058 N. Leavitt in Bucktown has been on the market since July 2011.

In that time, it has been reduced $50,000 to $549,000.

Built in 1887 on a smaller than standard 24×100 lot, two of the bedrooms are on the second floor with the third in the lower level.

The  kitchen has 42 inch maple cabinets, granite counter tops and a mixture of black and stainless steel appliances (although the listing says stainless, that is definitely NOT a stainless refrigerator staring at you when you click on the kitchen pics.)

The yard has been professionally landscaped and has a two car garage.

The house has central air and an office in the lower level.

It is now listed $11,000 under the 2005 purchase price.

Is this house what you’re getting for the entry-level Bucktown starter home?

Susan Berman at Susan Berman has the listing. See the pictures here.

2058 N. Leavitt: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in June 1992 for $118,000
• Sold in September 1997 for $250,000
• Sold in September 2000 for $409,000
• Sold in March 2003 for $427,500
• Sold in December 2005 for $560,000
• Originally listed in July 2011 for $599,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $549,000
• Taxes of $7002
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 18×11 (lower level)
• Office: 9×17 (lower level)

This large 1-bedroom at 50 E. Bellevue in the Gold Coast recently came on the market.

Though the building was constructed in 1979, the unit has been renovated and has “all new everything” in the sleek and modern style.

The kitchen has white European style cabinets and hidden appliances.

Anyone know what those floors are?

There is no central air, only wall units.

And the listing says the in-unit washer/dryer is “permitted” (then why didn’t they put it in when they redid everything?)

Parking is also available for rent in the building for $200 a month.

Buyers like “new” right now.

Will this unit command its $299,000 asking price?

Lanae Silvestri at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1506: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 980 square feet

• Sold in December 1997 for $160,500
• Sold in November 2001 for $270,000
• Currently listed for $299,000
• Assessments of $680 a month (includes doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $3504
• No central air- wall units
• No in-unit washer/dryer (but it is permitted)
• Parking is rental in the building for $200 a month
• Bedroom: 13×15

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom full floor vintage unit at 707 W. Junior Terrace in the Buena Park neighborhood of Uptown in October 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

It’s a short sale and has been reduced $330,000 from its original 2009 list price.

Back in October, some of you thought this would have to go under $500,000 in order to sell.

It’s currently listed at $509,000.

If you recall, the midrise building was built in 1927 and has 14 units.

Like many vintage buildings of this era, the unit has big room sizes and includes a full sized dining room and family room.

It has arched ceilings in the foyer, crown molding and a fireplace.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and stone counter tops.

There is space pac cooling and an in-unit washer dryer.

It looks like the parking is available for rent (not sure if this is just in the neighborhood or in the building.)

With prices on Lakeview vintage units now dropping, what’s this one a little further north likely to finally sell for?

Greg Desmond at Prudential Rubloff still has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #5: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed (but somewhere around 3000 based on other units in the building)

• Sold in March 1996 for $168,000
• Sold in February 2000 for $308,000
• Sold in May 2004 for $665,000
• Sold in July 2006 for $690,000
• Originally listed in February 2009 for $839,000
• Withdrawn from the market in January 2010
• Was listed in July 2011 as a “short sale” at $600,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in October 2011 at $550,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $509,000
• Assessments of $1183 a month (includes heat, gas)
• Taxes of $4512
• Space pac cooling
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Rental parking
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×8
• Family room: 19×15
• Living room: 19×15
• Dining room: 17×12
• Kitchen: 25×12

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom duplex down at 334 W. Menomonee in Old Town in October 2008 when it came on the market shortly after having been purchased.

See our prior chatter here.

Given what was going on at the time (Lehman Brothers had just collapsed), it was a spirited discussion about people’s real estate decisions.

If you recall, this 16-unit building was converted into condos in 2007-2008.

Initially, only a handful of them sold. The rest were rented by the developer.

Within the last year, I heard that the developer allegedly sold a bunch of them in a bulk sale.

This unit was one of four original sales (so it was NOT included in the recent bulk sale). It is one of the larger units in the building at 1400 square feet.

It has arched windows, millwork and moldings.

The kitchen and baths have luxury finishes. The kitchen has white cabinets, SubZero appliances and marble counter tops.

The listing says the bathrooms have waterworks tile/plumbing.

The unit has central air and an in-unit washer/dryer but there is no parking with the building.

The property is now listed $149,000 under the 2008 purchase price at $450,000.

Is this price in the ballpark for the location in the “real” part of Old Town?

Julie Tag at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #102: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1400 square feet, duplex down

• Sold in March 2008 for $599,000
• Was re-listed for sale in October 2008 for $599,000
• Withdrawn
• Originally listed in January 2012 for $475,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $450,000
• Assessments of $195 a month
• Taxes of $5934
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 16×12 (lower level)
• Bedroom #2: 13×13 (lower level)

From the Illinois Association of Realtors:

In the city of Chicago, January 2012 home sales (single family and condominiums) totaled 1,093, up 5.7 percent from 1,034 homes sold in January 2011. The city of Chicago median home sale price for January 2012 was $149,000, down -0.7 percent compared to January 2011 when it was $150,000.

Here’s the data since 2006 (thanks to G):

• January 2006: 2009 sales and median price of $258,000
• January 2007: 1850 sales and median price of $279,900
• January 2008: 1203 sales and median price of $290,000
• January 2009: 918 sales and median price of $205,000
• January 2010: 1237 sales and median price of $195,000
• January 2011: 1034 sales and median price of $150,000
• January 2012: 1093 sales and median price of $149,000

The percentage of total January Chicago sales that were REO/Short Sales:

• 2009: 25%
• 2010: 42%
• 2011: 50%
• 2012: 49%

Chicago condo/townhouse sales:

• January 2009: 474 sales and median price of $308,625
• January 2010: 675 sales and median price of $279,000
• January 2011: 585 sales and median price of $180,000
• January 2012: 623 sales and median price of $185,000

Remember, the median price can be misleading. It doesn’t really tell you much about what is happening out there with prices except that more is selling on the low end than the high.

The official IAR statement about what is going on in Chicago doesn’t tell us much.

“January gave 2012 a solid start in sales of homes in the city of Chicago,” said REALTOR® Bob Floss, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and Broker-Owner of Bob Floss and Son Realty. “Motivated buyers and sellers moving in what has been a mild Chicago winter has helped move both distressed and traditional properties. We will be closely watching the impact of pricing on the market and how homebuyers and investors react to what could be a new norm.”

While there was some bullishness about the overall state of the market around the state.

“Whether you’re a seller or a buyer, there are positives to this data, said Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, president of the Illinois Association of REALTORS® and Broker-Owner of Century 21 Alonzo & Associates in La Grange Park. “After years of standing on the sidelines, buyers are finding this is the right time to get into affordable housing. While sellers may not be getting all of the money they want for a house, they are getting traffic and interest at levels that haven’t been seen in several years.”

Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois, said the Feb. 7 settlement between states and five large banks relating to foreclosure abuses could speed pending cases through the court system.

“Now that the major legal bottlenecks for processing foreclosed properties appear to have been resolved, it is likely that these properties will assume a significant share of sales in 2012,” Hewings said. “This provides mixed news for the housing market; it is positive in the sense that the large backlog can now begin to be removed from the inventory. However, it is likely to continue to dampen any prospect of near-term housing price recovery.”

I hate to say it, but could the mild weather have played a much larger role in these numbers?

Are sales being pulled forward from the normal spring market?

Illinois sees 16.1 percent increase in home sales; strongest January sales report since 2007, data show [Illinois Association of Realtors, Press Release, February 22, 2012]

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom duplex up at 2211 N. Clybourn in Lincoln Park in November 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

Back then, it was a short sale but it never sold. Thanks to Bob for pointing out that it had recently come back on the market- only as a bank owned unit.

This is one instance where waiting to buy meant you would get a much lower price as it was listed at $265,000 as a short sale in 2010 and is now listed at just $206,000.

It is a Fannie Mae Homepath property. Just 3% down gets you in.

The listing says this is the “real Chicago”.

Could that be a refernce to the famous pizza place that is located just two doors down from the property? (hint, hint: Pequod’s)

There is also a Starbucks almost right across the street as well as the Webster Place movies and Barnes & Noble bookstore just a half a block away.

The listing says the “elegant charm will blow you away.”

At 1400 square feet, the living/dining and second bedroom is on the main floor.

It duplexes up into a huge loft like master bedroom with an exposed wood beamed ceiling, exposed brick and a brand new master bathroom.

The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. From the pictures, it appears to still be intact.

There are 2 woodburning fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom, and a private rooftop deck.

It has central air and washer/dryer in the unit, but it doesn’t appear to have any parking.

Is this a deal at the current price?

Nichola Hansen at REO Plus LLC now has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3F: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1400 square feet

• Sold in April 2007 for $280,000
• Originally listed in June 2010 for $315,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in November 2010 as a “short sale” for $265,000
• Withdrawn
• Bank owned in October 2011
• Fannie Mae Homepath property
• Currently listed for $206,000
• Assessments of $219 a month
• Taxes of $3041
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Private rooftop deck
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 23×23 (top floor)
• Bedroom #2: 8×15